Manifolding machine



Nov. 27, 1934. F. s. DIESBACH MANIFOLDING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 15, 1955 Bl LI. 0 SALE INVENTOR W W- ATTORNEYS Filed Sept. 13, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIAIII ll INVENTO'R ATTO RN EYS Patented Nov. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES MANIFOLDING MACHINE Fritz G. Diesbach, Hamilton, om, assignor to Krauth & Benninghofen, Hamilton, Ohio, at

Application September 13, 1933, Serial No. 689,297

4 Claims.

-. the packet form being here disclosed and in which a plural number of strips are disposed in superposed arrangement and in zigtag folds, the folds being relative to the length of the forms printed upon the strips, the folds usually being in the .15 spacing between the forms. The strips also contain filing holes, likewise located in the spacing between the forms, and in the machine are utilized for governing the withdrawal of the strips in measured lengths representing the full length 0f the printed form and for aligning and registering the printed forms of the several strips upon the writing table for making the entries and manifolding and holding the same from being disarranged while making the entries. In the presmt machine, the apertures or filing holes are utilized for administering a mechanical pullout or-short-feeding advance of the strip to project the forward end thereof sufficiently from the delivery end of the machine for convenient grasp by 3a the operator to manually continue the withdrawal until again arrested bypins or detents automatically engaging with the next successive set of apertures when brought into registry with the ping a -An object of the invention is to provide at one endof a manifolding machine or writing table thereof from which continuous form stationery or, strips arewithdrawn, means for entering into apertures in the strips when in registry therewith,

the apertures in the strips arranged at definite spacings apart for controlling the length of strip withdrawal and to initiate theadvance of said strips when engaged'therewith for projecting the end of the strips sufficiently beyond the delivery endof the machine for hand-grasp to manually continue the strip withdrawal.

1 In packaging the strips in the packet form by zigzag folding, it is desirable to make the folds along a line at which the paper is weakened or so punctured, so that the joined leaves or portions between the folds will lie flat at the fold. A sharp fold is of advantage in making a square edged pack, and essential for appropriate folding of a plural" number of strips in manifolding arrangement to have the form blanks of the several strips correspondingly within the folds. The sharp folding, however, results in ridging the paper in the continuousstrip at the fold lines when unfolding from the pack, and in passing over a plane surface forms an obstruction against passing a transverse edge of a sheet of manifolding paper interposed between the strips over the writing table, materially interfering with the withdrawal or advance of the strips, and frequently causes the strips to tear at the fold line and injury to the approaching edges of the carbon sheets, requiring the machine to be opened and correction made to place the parts in operative condition.

It is therefore another'object of the invention to provide means for ironing or smoothing out the ridges in the strip, formed by folding the strips for packaging, in their advance over the writing table and prior to reaching the approaching transverse edge of the carbon sheets.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be more fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the manifolding machine with a portion shown in section to disclose the parts secured to and beneath the rear end of the margin frame or cover.

Figure 2 is a central vertical section on line 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4, Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the mechanism for initiating the strip withdrawal to project the forward end of the strips beyond the delivery end of the machine for hand grasp to manually continue withdrawal.

Figure 6 is a section on line 66, Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a sectional view similar to Figure 6, showing the parts in their normal position or alternate from that shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detail longitudinal section through the upper forward end portion of the machineillustrating modified means for applying a tension upon the strips to hold the same upon the platen against displacement.

Figure 9 is a cross section through the same.

The mechanism for initiating the feeding advance or withdrawal of the strips to project the forward end beyond the delivery end of the machine is characteristic to a type of manifolding machine shown and described in Letters Patent No. 1,333,082 to A. Krauth, dated March 9, 1920, in employing a hinged or swinging lever member carrying depressible pins engageable respective-- ly with apertures in the strip or strips when brought into registry therewith in the withdrawal of the strips over the writing table and also controlling the strip withdrawal to measured lengths governed or regulated by the aperture spacing longitudinally of the strips. 1

Referring to the drawings, 1, 2 indicate the opposite side walls of the frame or casing of the machine and 3 the bottom thereof preferably of sheet metal. The casing furnishes a compartment for a supply pack of paper or continuous form of stationery 4, consisting of a plurality of superposed strips in zigzag fold. The strips as a unit from the supply pack extend to engage over the rear end of a writing table or platen 5 mounted to and between the side walls 1, 2, and capable of being removed or elevated for access into the supply compartment} The rear end of the writing table is inclined downwardly and its edge curved inwardly or rounded for guiding the strips onto the table. The writing table is slightly recessed below the top edges of the side walls of the casing so as to have the side walls confine the strips over the writing tableand guide the same in the longitudinal withdrawal. A margin frame 6 is hingedly or removably secured to the casing, in the present instance flanged over the side walls and hinged thereto at the forward or strip delivery end of the casing and overlying the writing table. p

The interior of the casing toward the forward end thereof is subdivided by a partition wall 8 rigidly secured to the bottom of the casing, and forms an end wall for the supply compartment.

A swinging vertical carrier or leaf member 9 is located within the forward compartment formed by the partition wall 8 and hingedly connected upon a rod 10 secured to and engaged between the side walls of the casing. The rear side of the carrier slidably supports a plate -11 parallel with the carrier and slidably connected thereto by T- lugs 12 stamped or punched to extend from the rear side of the carrier and engaged respectively through T-slots 13 in the slide plate 11.

Two of the lugs 12, each respectively has a spring 14 connected thereto, the opposite ends of the springs are each connected with an ear or lip 15 punched outwardly from the slide plate 11. The springs normally yieldingly sustain the slide plate in an elevated position. The upper end of the slide plate 11 has a pair of laterally forwardly extended ears 16, 16, each carrying an upwardly extending pin 17. The pins are spaced correspondingly to the cross-wise spacing of the apertures 18, 18, in the strips 19 to engage theretlirough when asset of apertures are brought into registry therewith. The slide plate normally being urged upwardly by the springs 14 brings the pins into contact with the underside of the strips or lowermost strip thereof in position to snap through the apertures in the strips when brought into registry therewith, arresting or withholding strip advance, thereby controlling or regulating the strip withdrawal to definite measured lengths corresponding to the distance of the aperture spacing longitudinally of the strips. The-pins engage through elongated slots in the forward end of the writing table to project [above the writing table when engaged through the apertures of the strips.

The carrier 9 and slide plate 11 as a unit are held to a vertical position by a spring 20, one end thereof engaged with an ear 21 punched outwardly from the rear side of the carrier and extending into a slot 22 through the slide'plate 11 and the opposite end of the spring 20 is connected with a rock shaft 23 joumalled in the side walls of the casing. The upper end of the carrier is suitably notched to provide clearance for the laterally extended pin carrying ears 16 of the slide plate and other parts extending thereaeross. The carrier, at vertical position, engages a cross bar 24 for limiting the rearward swing of the carrier and slide plate as a unit.

For initiating a feeding advance or partial with-' drawal of the strips 19 when the pins 17 are; engaged with a set of apertures 18 of the strips, to project the forward end of the strips beyond the delivery end of the casing to obtain a handhold upon the strips'for continued withdrawal, the carrier and slide plate as a unit are rocked or swung forwardly by an arm 26 fixed to and laterally extending from the rock shaft 23. The forward end of the arm 26 engages into the slot 22 as the arm is rocked for swinging the carrier and slide plate and also for depressing the slide plate toward its forward limit of swing to extract the pins from the apertures inthe strip.

The rock shaft is actuated by a hand or thumb lever 27 fixed to one end of the rock shaft exterior of the casing. Upon depressing the lever 27, the arm 26, in connection therewith through the rock shaft 23, is swung downwardly,'whereupon. the forward end of the arm contacts with the carrier forcing the carrier and slide plate as a unit forwardly, correspondingly advancing the strips 19 through their connection with the pins. Toward the forward limit of the swing of the carrier and slide plate, the arm 26 engages with a lug 28 laterally extending from the rear side of the slide plate 11 for depressing the slide plate to extract the pins from the apertures in the strips. Upon fully depressing the slide plate, it is locked in its depressed position by a latch spring 29 fixed to the forward side of the carrier 9, its upper end having a rearwardly extended lug 30 serving as a catch for engaging over the top edge or into a notch 31 of the slide plate confining or looking the slide plate in its depressed position and holding the same in such position during the return stroke of the slide plate and carrier 20 as a unit. As the carrier reaches its limit of rearward swing, the upper end of the latch spring 29 engages with an edge of the cross bar 24 adapting the same to be flexed during the continued rearward swing of the carrier to release its locking connection with the slide plate, allowing the slide plate to be-again urged upwardly by the springs 14 for bringing the pins into contact with the lower side of the lowermost, strip of the series inposition and ready to snap through a set of apertures in the strips when brought into registry therewith.

The rock shaft 23 carries a' second arm 32 as integral with the arm 26, its forward end being of'hook form adapting the same to be engaged through slots 33 in the slide plate and carrier for locking the same as a unit against forward motion, the locking connection being released upon actuating or depressing the hand or thumb lever 27. The rock shaft 23 is spring-tensioned to normalize the same,'carrying a lever arm 34 fixed to the shaft, the free end of the arm connecting with a spring 34 the opposite end of the spring 34 being fixed to the interior of the side wall -1 As shown in Figure 2, the upper or free end of the arm 26 when in a retracted position engages with a depending flange of the cross bar 24 limiting the retreat motion of the arm audits connected parts, as the cross shaft 23am! handlever 27.

The upper end of the slide plate 11 intermediate of the pins 17 carries a friction pad 35 shown as a section of tubing having a corrugated or roughened periphery or outer surface and mounted upon a bracket 36 fixed to the slide plate.

The friction pad presses the strips against the underside of the forward cross bar portion'of the margin frame, retards the manual pull upon the strips, prevents the same from being relatively displaced under the withdrawal. pull and thereby avoids throwing or moving the relative apertures in the several strips of the series out of alignment or registration. The pad holds the strips in frictional engagement so that the intermediate strip of a series will move uniformly with the others in a manual withdrawal of the strip.

To iron or smooth out the crosswise creases, resulting from folding the strip for packeting, so as not to form an obstruction to the free passage of the strip beneath the approach edge of the carbon sheet as the strips are advanced over the writing table respectively above a carbon sheet, the strips as they advance onto the writing table pass beneath a pair of pressing rolls 37-3'7 on the opposite ends of a spindle 38 journalled in a bracket 39 fixed to the underside of the rear end of the margin frame.

The rollers are yieldingly depressed upon the strips and against the writing table by a pair of leaf or fiat springs 4040 mounted or secured to a bracket plate 41 fixed to the underside of the margin frame and the forward free ends of the springs bear on the spindle exerting a downward pressure upon the pressing rolls.

It has been experienced that the smoothing out of the creases need only be toward the opposite edges of the strips at which a starting tear more easily occurs along the weakened fold line in resisting the advance of the strips, as the crease extends slightly upward and engages the approach edge of the carbon sheet and if a tear occurs it will allow the torn edge to rise above the plane of the approach edge of the carbon paper which either results in tearing the sheets across the entire fold line or injury to the edge of the carbon sheet, necessitating replacement of the carbon sheet or reloading adjustment of the strips.

The crease smooth-out rolls alsoserve to apply a resistance for retarding the advance of the strips and in conjunction with either the pins or the friction pad 35 tautly hold the portion of the strips between said parts over the writing table to avoid disarrangement of the registry of the forms when making an entry thereon.

In an operation of the machine the strips are initially loaded over the writing table with the foremost set of apertures at the forward end of the strips engaged over the pins 17. After the entries are made on the form lengths exposed through the margin frame and the same are ready for issuance or withdrawal, the thumb lever 2'7 is depressed, swinging the arm 28, on the rock shaft 23, forwardly, correspondingly swinging the carrier 9 and slide plate with its pins 17 as a unit, initiating a feeding advance of the strips through their connection with the pins. This initiating advance of the strips is suillclent to project the forward ends thereof beyond the delivery end of the machine casing for hand grasp by the operator to manually continue strip withdrawal.

As the arm descends it finally engages with the slide plate, depressing the same retracting the pins from the apertures in the strips. As soon as the slide plate has been depressed to a determined pin retracting degree it is locked in its depressed position by the latch spring 29 and held in such position during. a greater portion of the return stroke of the carrier and thence automatically released. The spring 29 is disengaged from the slide plate byv blocking its swinging motion before the carrier and its slide plate has reached its limit of retreat stroke. The pins with the release of the slide plate are yieldingly engaged against the underside of the lowermost strip of the series ready to function when a succeeding set of apertures in the strips are brought into registry therewith. I

Referring to Figures 8 and 9, theslide plate 11 intermediate of the pins 17 which engage through the apertures in the strips is provided with a second set of pins 42, 42, of reduced length for engaging against the underside of the lowermost strip of the series when the pins 1'7 are engaged through the registering apertures, the pins 42 compressing the strips respectively against elastic buttons or cushions 43, 43, seated in the underside of the margin frame axially of the pins, the pins pressing the strips against the buttons or cushions securely holding the same upon the writing table against displacement. The pressure is released with the retraction of the pin 17, the pins 42 moving as a unit therewith and are retracted below the top plane of the writing table. As shown in the drawings, the elastic buttons or cushions 43 are centrally apertured or recessed to increase the friction bite upon the strips when compressed by the pins 42.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a manifolding machine, a casing provided with a platen over which continuous form stationery is drawn, a margin frame over the platen and a roller yieldingly journaled upon the underside of the margin frame depressing the stationery upon the platen and at the approach end thereof for smoothing out creases in the stationery as the stationery is drawn over the platen.

2. In a manifolding machine, a casing provided with a platen over which a plurality of strips in superposed arrangement are drawn, the strips provided with registering apertures at de-- termined intervals, a carrier having depressible pins adapted to engage through the strip apertures when in registry therewith said carrier oscillatably mounted at the forward end of the platen to initiate a feeding movement to the strip when the pins are engaged with the strips, and

a lever for oscillating said carrier and subsequently depressing said pins to retract the same from the aperturesin the strip, and said lever in its us- Luv) with a platen over which a plurality of strips in H superposed arrangement are drawn, the strips provided with registering apertures at determined intervals, a carrier having depressible pins adapted to engage through the strip apertures when in registry therewith, said carrier oscillatably mounted at the forward end of the platen to initiate a feeding movement to the strip when the pins are engaged with the strips, a lever for oscillating said carrier and subsequently depressing said pins to retract the same from the apertures in the strip, and said lever in its normal position locking said carrier, and means on said carrier for holding the pins retracted during a major portion of return movement'of the icarrier automatically releasable toward the end, of; carrier return movement. 1 a v 4. In a manifolding machine,. a casing-pro- 5 vided with a platen over which continuous form stationery is drawn; a margin frame over the platen, and pressure means urged against=the FRITZ G. DIESBACH. 

